Actor and author R.H. Thomson to share experiences of war and families at book reading on Nov. 15 at Beach United Church
Celebrated Canadian actor and Member of the Order of Canada, R.H. Thomson will take part in a special book reading and meet-and-greet session in the Beach on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Thomson, who has appeared in numerous television shows and movies including Anne with an E and Road to Avonlea, will be reading from his book By The Ghost Light: Wars, Memories and Families at Beach United Church.
The book explores Thomson’s family connections and history with war, and how we understand and comprehend it. His appearance in the Beach coincides with Remembrance activities now taking place in November.
“Families have stories that haunt them, especially if family members have been in wars,” said Thomson in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News.
“I wanted to explore Canadians’ memories of wars since we are now every community in the world. In a theatre after the show when the audience has left, a ‘ghost light’ is placed on the stage. It’s that light by which I wanted to explore the stories from our past that are shaping our future.”
Growing up, Thomson was fascinated by war – playing toy soldiers on the carpet of his grandmother’s houses and recreating the Battle of Britain with model airplanes in his bedroom.
His childhood was also shaped by the memories and connections of the real-life warriors in his family. Eight of Thomson’s great uncles – George, Joe, Jack, Harold, Arthur, Warren, Wildy and Fred fought in the First World War. His great aunt Margaret served as a wartime surgical nurse in Europe.
His uncles were also faithful letter writers and their correspondence offered profound insights into their experiences on the front lines and served as a somber record of the sacrifice the family paid. By The Ghost Light is both an intimate wartime history and also a personal memoir.
The Nov. 15 event at Beach United will also feature a question-and-answer session along with the meet-and-greet. Thomson said he is looking forwarding to talking with those who attend.
“I hope we can have a discussion about how wars have impacted our families through the stories that have been handed down,” he said. “I hope we can also laugh, since the human spirit is indomitable and comedy is essential. Remembrance Day has always been an honourable event, but I’d like to explore how it can become more inclusive.”
Thomson has a history with the Beach community that includes being part of a Shakespearean theatre company in the area. “The Beaches is a wonderful community. We started a theatre company here years ago – Shakespeare Works. Sadly it is no more but the Beaches really supported us for the years it existed, and for that I am grateful.”
Beach United Church is located at 140 Wineva Ave., and the Nov. 15 event begins at 2 p.m. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to The World Remembers project at https://theworldremembers.org/
For more more information and for tickets, please go to https://www.oakartistmgmt.com/
Copies of By The Ghost Light will also be available for purchase at the event.
